Charles leander biggins



(No Model) 0. L. HIGGINS.

RUBBER sow) FOOTWEAR. No. 548,195. I P

ANDREW BIGRAMAM. PHOTO-LITHDWASNINGTON. D C

UNTTED STATES PATENT FFICE CHARLES LEANDER HIGGINS, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

RUBBER-SOLED FOOTWEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 548,195, dat O ob 8 Applioation filed March 27, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES LEANDER HIG- GINS, of the city of Montreal, in the district of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulv Improvements in Rubber-soled Footwear; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates more particularly to overshoes of moccasin type, in which the vamp and upper are formed of buckskin or unwaterproofed material, with which it is diflicult to secure a strong and permanent connection with the rubber-sole portions and connections, although applicable in other kinds of footwear, such as tennis-shoes and the like.

The object of the invention is to obtain a secure attachment between the buckskin upper or vamp and the rubber-sole portion with, at the same time, a saving in stock, and also to improve somewhat the appearance of the connecting-joint.

The invention consists in cutting the vamp of the overshoe or other article of footwear of less depth than is ordinarily required, thereby saving a considerable amount of stock, and making up the difference in size by using a connecting or retaining strip similar to that described in my pending application, Serial No. 535,838, filed January 22, 1895, which has its upper edge stitched to the vamp and its lower edge lasted to the insole and outer rubber cover and outsole secured over same, and a finishing-strip of thin frictioned stock with one edge held between the adjacent faces of the vamp and connecting-strip and the remaining portion adapted to be turned down over the raw upper edge of the connectingstrip and secured between the adjacent faces of this connectingstrip and outer rubber cover when in place.

I have chosen to show myinvention applied to an overshoe of moccasin type, and for full comprehension thereof reference must be had to the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like symbols indicate corresponding parts, and wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of a complete moccasin overshoe constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation, partly broken away, of the upper and vamp only; Fig. 3, an enlarged transverse section on line $erial No. 543,437- (No model.)

3 3, Fig. 2, of one half of the vamp; and Fig. 4, a similar view to Fig. 3, but showing the article completed.

a is the upper, of moccasin type, having overlapping flaps a and buckle-bands b, and o is the forward top'portion of the vamp having a tongue-piece c in one therewith, such upper and top portion of the vamp being of buckskin or other unwaterproofed material and sewed together in the usual manner. The remainder of the vamp is formed by a strip of waterproofed frictioned stock d similar to that described in my before-mentioned pending application, but in this case frictioned only on its outside, its inner surface being woolly. This strip is stitched along its upper edge by means of a line of stitching e, overlapping the edges of the upper a and top portion a of the vamp, such line of stitching being preferably of a zigzag character, as shown, a second straight line f of connecting stitching running close to and parallel with the edge of the strip 01 to serve as a guide when working the zigzag stitch.

The lower edge of the strip d is lasted to the insole g of the rubber-foot portion and the outer cover g and outsole g of such foot portion cemented in place in the usual manner, the cover 9 extending up to the upper edge of the connecting-strip d and covering the lines of stitching.

In order to cover up the raw upper edge of the connecting-strip, when desired, I use a finishing-strip h of thin frictioned stock, one edge of which is held between the adjacent faces of the connecting-strip and the upper and forward top portion of the vamp and the remaining portion turned down over the edge of the connecting-strip and secured between the adjacent faces of such connecting-strip and .the outer rubber cover g, as shown in Fig. 4:.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In rubber soled foot wear, an incomplete vamp or upper composed of buckskin or unwaterproofed material, a connecting strip of waterproof material stitched to the lower edge of such vamp and forming an extension to complete same, a rubber foot portion proper to which said connecting strip is secured and a finishing strip turned over the edge of the connecting strip and held with one edge between the upper or vamp and the connecting strip and the outer edge between said strip and the rubber foot portion proper for the purpose set forth.

2. In rubber soled foot wear, an incomplete vamp or upper composed of buckskin or un- Waterproofed material, a connecting strip of Waterproof material stitched to the lower edge of such vamp by a zig-zag line of stitching overlapping the edge of the vamp or upper and forming an extension to complete same, a rubber foot portion proper to which said connecting strip is secured and a finishing strip turned over the edge of the connecting strip and held with one edge between the upper or vamp and the connecting strip and the other edge between said strip and the rubber foot portion proper, for the purpose set forth.

Montreal, 20th day of March, 1895.

CHARLES LEANDER HIGGINS.

In presence of- WILL P. MOFEAT, FRED. J. SEARS. 

